| Recipient: | Wounded Warriors Canada |
|---|---|
| Project: | Wounded Warriors Canada COPE Program |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Period: | Fiscal year 2018-2019 |
| Funding: | $245,000 |
Overview:
Wounded Warriors Canada, established in 2006, is the country's leading, independent Veteran's charity focusing on mental health. Wounded Warriors Canada implemented the COPE program which is a form of couple's therapy assisting Veterans suffering from operational stress injuries as well as their spouses/partners. This was a two-phase program wherein the first phase was a five-day, retreat-style therapy session where the couple met with COPE Alumni and a variety of therapists. During the second phase, a Professional Family Coach was assigned to Veterans and their partners for six months and kept in contact by telephone.
Project Goals:
The project aimed to decrease the associated shame and isolation that comes with operational stress injuries (i.e., PTSD), and provide affected couples with hope for a positive future together.
Project Activities:
During phase one, the five couples managing PTSD were gathered together in groups to work on their relationships. The six-month coaching aspect of COPE (phase two) was a critical component of the program, working to ensure the new skills and techniques learned during the first phase were sustained, giving the couple the greatest chance at success with their relationships long-term.
Each couple was encouraged to sustain the relationships created during phase one and to provide ongoing peer support through phase two. Couples discovered that learning together while helping others contributes towards their own healthy relationships.
Project Results:
The funding allowed the organization to add four additional COPE programs to their regularly scheduled programming between the months of December 2018 and March 2019. This allowed 20 additional couples to attend COPE and helped immensely with reducing the program waitlist. All 20 Veteran couples completed the two phases of the program (i.e., the retreat and the family coaching model six months post-retreat.)